Lobster-claw lock



April 1s, 1935. J, BARWOOD 1,997,711

LOBSTER CLAW LOCK Filed Apil 11, 1935 llfm/ awwood Yand 'I are disposed at the base of the cone.

Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT orties 27 Claims.

The present invention relates to locks, and more particularly to locks for claws, such as the claws of lobster legs.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lobster-claw lock that shall be cheap to manufacture, non-corrodibla'and very efficient in operation.

Other objects will be explained in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a view in elevation of a lobster leg, with the claws thereof locked by a claw lock according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective of the claw lock shown in Fig. 1, before attachment to the lobster claws; and Figs. 3 to 5` are similar perspectives of modifications.

The novel lock of the present invention comprises a member in the form of a non-planar surface and having an opening 2 and walls 4, 6, 8 and Il) of substantial extent along the opening, these walls being non-planar and merging smoothly into one another. The lock has more or less the shape of a truncated cone, the opening 2 being the upper boundary of the truncated cone, and the walls 4 and 8 forming the sloping sides. The wall 4 is of smaller Width than the other walls and has a boundary edge vI I opposite to the edge I3 of the openingv2. The Wall 8 is similarly bounded by a boundary edge 1 opposite to the edge 9 of the opening 2. The edges II The wall 8 is adapted to be positioned contiguous or adjacent to or on a claw I2 of a lobster leg I4, with the end I6 of the claw I 2 extending through the opening 2, and with the edge I3 of the opening 2 contiguous to the inner, toothed edge I 'I of the claw I2. The opening 2 is large enough to receive the end I6 of one claw I2 only, and not large enough to receive both claws. The opening 2 is of such a size that the end I6 of the claw I2 can not be inserted therein by a direct thrust, from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 1. It can be inserted only by tilting the claw.

The edge II of the wall 4 is adapted to be positioned contiguous to or on the inner, toothed edge I8 of the other claw I8 of the leg I4. The wall 4 is thus disposed between the contiguously disposed claws I2 and I8. The wall 4 is preferably of small enough width so that the claws I2 and I8 shall occupy their normal position, with the hooked tip 23 of the end 20 of the claw I8 positioned near to, and preferably in Contact with, the hooked tip 2I of the end I8 of the claw I 2. The Wall 4 may, however, if desirable, be

toothed side Il, which carries the tip 2 I.

made wider, so as to hold these hooked tips 2I and 23 separated.

The claws are secured in such position, with the wall 4 interposed, in any desired manner. In Figs. l and 2, the Walls 8 and I0 are provided with continuation straps 22 and 24 that may extend along each side of the claw i8 and be bent over against thel convex outer edge 25 thereof. The claws l2 and i8 become thus encircled in an oval-shaped structure comprising the walls 6, 8 and I0 and the straps 22 and 24, with the wall 4 disposed between the claws. These straps may, however, be replaced by other straps 26 and 28, formed by cutting away from the walls 6 and I of the material, along lines 38 and 32, and reversely bending at 34 and 33, as in Fig. 3. A single, claw-encircling strap 22 may pass over the convex outer edge 25 and engage under a hook 38, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The ends of a separate, connecting, wire strap or straps 44 may extend through openings 48 and 42 in the walls 8 and I8, as in Fig. 4. As a further modification (not shown), the ends of the straps 22 and 24 extending beyond the edge 25 may merely be twisted together.

In all these, and other, cases that will suggest themselves, the part or parts that extend over the convex outer edge of the claw I8 will be held in position, as illustrated, without any tendency for it or them to slide down toward the end 2U of the claw i8, because any such sliding tendency is resisted by thel edge 'I engaging the outer edge 46 of the claw I2 opposite to the It may be resisted, also, in some cases, depending upon the relative dimensions of the parts, by the edge I3 engaging the toothed edge Il of this claw I2. If the dimension of the opening 2, in the direction from the edge i3 to the wall 8, is made smaller than the dimension of the claw I2, from the extreme, hooked tip of the end I8, to the outer edge 4S, there will be no possibility of the lock slipping olf the claw I2 in a direction toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1.

It is preferred that the lock of the present invention, including the walls 4, E, 8 and I0, and the straps, including the strap 44, be made of some non-corrodible metal, such as aluminum, stainless steel and the like. As these walls are of substantial extent, they provide room for stamping hereon some designating legend 48, such as the name of the locality from which the lobsters were taken. Sometimes, one or more of the walls, or parts of them, may be omitted. The lock may conveniently be made of a single sheet of metal,

properly died and stamped, and spun, drawn, swaged or otherwise deformed into the beforementioned conical shape. It may, however, be provided with ends, soldered, welded, or otherwise integrally joined, as at 58, Fig. 3. In some cases, i` the metal is sufficiently stiff, the ends 50 may be merely overlapped, Fig. 4.

According to the present invention, the lobster claws are securely and safely locked without, in any way, injuring the meat, as is the case with the wooden pegs that are commonly driven into the joints at 52 to lock the claws.

These wooden pegs, furthermore, frequently fall out of place, which can not happen with the present invention. The claws are locked closed, but they may be locked open, depending upon the width of the wall 4 and its location with respect to the teeth or" the toothed edges I1 and i9. if the edges Il and i3 are positioned next to the :zips 2! and 23, for example, the claws may be locked very slightly open; i! they are positioned as illustrated, the claws may be locked closed as shown; and if the lock is moved further to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, the degree of locked opening of the claws may be varied within limits. It is usually desirable to position the lock substantially as illustrated, with each of the edges i i and I3 engaging between the teeth of the toothed claw edges l1 and I9 very close, or contiguous to, the extreme ends 2| and 23 of the claws. The result is a minimum of discomfort to the lobsters, without injuring any of the meat, while, at the same time, absolutely assuring that the claws will always be locked.

Further modications will occur to persons skilled in the art, and all such are considered to fall the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A claw lock having a. portion adapted to be positioned contiguous to the inner edge of a claw, a second portion adapted to be positioned contiguous to the inner edge of a second claw, and means for securing the claws contiguous to said portions. respectively, with said portions interposed between the claws.

2. A claw lock having a portion provided with oppositely disposed sides respectively adapted to be positioned contiguous to two claws with said portion interposed between the claws, and means for securing the claws contiguous to said oppositely disposed sides.

3. A lobster-claw lock having an opening for receiving a claw of a lobster leg. a wall of the opening adapted to be interposed between the said claw and the other claw of the leg, and means for locking the first-named claw in said opening and the second-named claw contiguous thereto with said wall interpod between the claws.

4. A lobster-claw lock having an opening and walls of substantial extent along the opening, one of the walls being adapted to be positioned contiguous to a claw of the lobster leg with the end of the claw extending through the opening, and means for securing the other claw o! the leg contiguous to the first-named claw with a wall of the opening interposed between the claws.

5. A lobster-claw lock comprising a member in the form or a non-planar surface having an opening for receiving a lobster claw, the cross dimension oi the opening being smaller than the cross dimension o! the claw from the tip of the claw to the side of the rclaw opposite to that which carries the tip,

6. A lobster-claw lock of non-corrodible sheet metal having an opening for receiving one claw only of a lobster leg.

'7. A lobster-claw lock of more or less conical form having an opening, and means for securing a lobster claw in the lock with the end of the claw extending through the opening.

8. A lobster-claw lock having an opening and an edge, and means for securing a claw of a lobster leg in the lock with the end of the claw extending through the opening and with the other claw of the leg positioned contiguous to the said edge.

9. A lobster-claw lock having an opening and an edge, means for securing a claw of a lobster leg in the lock with the end of the claw extending through the opening and with the other claw of the leg positioned contiguous to the said edge, and means for locking the claws with a wall of the lock interposed between them.

10. A lobster-claw lock having an opening and an edge, means for securing a claw of a lobster leg in the lock with the end of the claw extending through the opening and with the other claw of the leg positioned contiguous to the said edge, and a strap for said other claw.

l1. A lobster-claw lock having an opening and an edge, and means for securing a claw of a lobster leg in the lock with the end of the claw extending through the opening and with the other claw of the leg positioned contiguous to the said edge, the lock having a strap continuous therewith for said other claw.

12. A lobster-claw lock having an opening and an edge, means for securing the claw of a lobster leg in the lock with the end of the claw extending through the opening and with the other claw of the leg positioned contiguous to the said edge, a strap continuous with the lock at one side thereof for encircling said other claw, and a hook adapted to be engaged by the strap.

13. A lobster-claw lock having an opening and an edge, means for securing a claw of a lobster leg in the lock with the end of the claw extending through the opening and with the other claw 0f the leg positioned contiguous to the said edge, the lock having additional openings, and a strap or straps adapted to extend through the said additional openings for securing said other claw.

14. A lobster-claw lock having an opening and an edge, and means for securing a claw of a lobster leg in the lock with the end of the claw extending through the opening and with the other claw of the leg positioned contiguous to the said edge, the lock having straps on each side of said other claw.

15. A lobster-claw lock having an opening and an edge, and means for securing a claw of a lobster leg in the lock with the end of the claw extending through the opening and With the other claw or the leg positioned adjacent to the said edge, the lock having straps cut away from the material of the member and reversely bent.

16. A claw lock having a portion adapted to be secured contiguous to a claw, a second portion adapted to be secured contiguous to a second claw, and means for securing the claws contiguous to said portions, respectively, the lock having a wall of substantial extent for bearing a designating legend.

17. A lobster-claw lock comprising a deformed, sheet-metal member in the form of a non-planar surface having an opening for receiving a lobster claw.

18. A lobster-claw lock comprising a sheetmetal member in the form of a non-planar surface having an opening for receiving a lobster claw, the ends of the surface being integrally joined together.

19. A lobster-claw lock comprising a sheetmetal member in the form of a non-planar surface having an opening for receiving a lobster claw, the ends of the surface being lapped.

20. A lobster-claw lock having an opening through which a lobster claw is adapted to eX- tend, the cross dimension of the opening being smaller than the cross dimension of the claw from the tip of the claw to the side of the claw opposite to that which carries the tip.

21. A lobster-claw lock having means for encircling the claws of a lobster leg and means adapted to be positioned between said claws when the claws are encircled by the encircling means.

22. A lobster-claw lock having a portion adapted to be positioned contiguous to the inner edge of a claw of a lobster leg, a second portion adapted to be positioned contiguous to the inner edge of the other claw of the lobster leg, and means engaging the outer edges of the claws to secure the claws contiguous to said portions respectively with said portions interposed between the claws.

23. A lobster-claw lock having means for engaging the outer edges of the claws of a lobster leg to hold the claws against substantial opening movement, and means adapted to be positioned between said claws when the claws are engaged by the engaging means.

24. A lobster-claw lock having means for engaging the outer edges of the claws of a lobster leg to hold the claws against substantial opening movement, the said means comprising a wall of substantial extent for engaging the outer edge of one of the claws and comprising also means for engaging the outer edge of the other claw and connected with the wall, an edge of the wall being adapted to engage the said outer edge of the said one of the claws to resist substantial movement of the last-named means along the said outer edge of the said other claw.

25. A lobster-claw lock having means for engaging the outer edges of the claws of a lobster leg to hold the claws against substantial opening movement, and means adapted to be positioned between said claws when the claws are engaged by the engaging means, the second-named means being connected with the rst-named means and having a portion adapted to engage an inner edge of one of the claws to resist substantial movement of the first-named means along the outer edge of one of the claws.

26. A lobster-claw lock having means for encircling the claws of a lobster leg, and means adapted to be positioned between said claws when the claws are encircled by the encircling means, the lock having means for bearing a designating legend.

27. A lobster-claw lock having means for encircling the claws of a lobster leg, and means adapted to be positioned between said claws when the claws are encircled by the encircling means, the last-named means having connected therewith means for bearing a designating legend.

LEON J. BARWOOD. 

